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Method and apparatus for verifying product sale transactions and processing product returns

  • US 7,379,899 B1
  • Filed: 11/10/1999
  • Issued: 05/27/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for validating consumer returns of purchased products, comprising:

  • a first information processing system having a product registration database containing information on purchased products and return criteria for purchased products;

    a second information processing system located at a retailer'"'"'s facility,said second information processing system having a input device that enables a unique product identifier to be obtained from a product at the point of sale, wherein, after purchase, said unique product identifier and transaction information, including at least a date of sale, are stored in said product registration database as at least part of said information on purchased products;

    said second information processing system operable, via said input device, to receive input on purchased products sought to be returned and to transmit to the first information processing system a unique product identifier based on the input;

    the first information processing system being operable to;

    receive the unique product identifier;

    access the product registration database and determine whether the product qualifies for return based on the unique product identifier, the transaction information and the return criteria associated with the product sought to be returned; and

    transmit to the first information processing system product information that indicates whether the product qualifies for return;

    said second information processing system including a display that is operable to display the product information when received from the first information processing system;

    and further wherein said first information processing system includes a customer interface, accessible by a purchaser over the Internet after a purchased product has been registered in said product registration database, which enables a purchaser of the purchased product to enter a unique product identifier for the purchased product and purchaser identification information which identifies the purchaser of the purchased product, said first information processing system being operable to store said purchaser information in said product registration database in association with said product information based on said unique product identifier.

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